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House OKs campaign contribution bill

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press Writer

Posted:
02/17/2010 12:36:05 AM MST

For full coverage of the 2010 New Mexico Legislative session, click here.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Lobbyists, state contractors and prospective contractors couldn't make campaign contributions to candidates and political parties under a measure passed Tuesday by the House that aims to end pay-to-play corruption in New Mexico.

Lawmakers debated the bill for almost four hours over two days before voting 46-24 to approve the measure and send it to the Senate.

Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, said the measure would stop potential pay-to-play corruption in which contributions influence government decisions and the awarding of state contracts, and ensure that contracts are awarded based on merit.

"It will begin to change the culture and restore public trust in government," Campos said.

An independent group, Think New Mexico, issued a report last year advocating the contribution ban to help restore public trust in government after a series of corruption scandals, including the convictions of two former state treasurers and a former state Senate leader.

Some lawmakers who opposed the measure said it would infringe on the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

Critics suggested subcontractors and others could get around the ban and that the measure failed to address problems that led to New Mexico's recent scandals.

"Many of these deals that made our citizens so mad had nothing to do with overtly seeking a contract based on our procurement code or any other processes.

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It was much deeper in the process. It happened at dinner. It happened between friends and colleagues," said Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque.

Arnold-Jones held up charts showing that lobbyists contribute a small amount of campaign contributions in New Mexico and that political parties, lawyers and energy and real estate interests give much more.

The measure was amended to remove language that would have prohibited "bundling" of contributions to state and local elected officials. Bundlers help raise contributions from other individuals or companies on behalf of a candidate, political party or political action committee.

Legislators restored bans on lobbyists and contractors from contributing to state and county political parties.

Legislators also are considering bills that would require contractors and others who seek state contracts to disclose campaign contributions.

Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, acknowledged during a Senate debate Monday that more stringent disclosure requirements for contractors and others would stand a better chance of getting the Legislature's approval than a contribution ban.

Last year, measures failed to prohibit contributions by lobbyists, contractors and corporations.

"We need a little sunshine here," Feldman said.

Currently, there's no limit on campaign contributions to legislators and candidates for statewide offices such as governor.

That will change after the November general election. A new law will cap contributions at $5,000 per election for statewide candidates and $2,300 for candidates for the Legislature and other non-statewide offices.